Commutator electric machine



Aug. 30, 1949. J. F. a. PETlT COHHUTATOR ELECTRIC MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed larch s, 1945 ean FrungolsGabrid PAH- VE NT Q,

S- 1949. J. F. s. PETIT 2,430,305

COIHUTATOR ELECTRIC MACHINE Filed March 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a. A R- contacts connected to resistances.

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 COMMUTATOR ELECTRIC MACHINE Jean Francois Gabriel Petit, Paris, France, as-

signor to Societe d'Exploitation de Brevetl,

Paris, France ApplicationMarch 8, 1946, Serial No. 652,919 In France March 8, 1945 1 Claim. 1

In order to maintain the voltage at the terminals of a dynamo constant when it operates at variable load and speed use is ordinarily made of a regulator influenced by the voltage to be regulated.

In all known regulators the measuring device modifies directly or indirectly the value of a resistance inserted in series in the excitation circuit of the dynamo.

The modification of this resistance necessitates either the alternate short-circuiting of a fixed resistance or the displacement of a cursor over In either instance there is frequently separation of contacts in series with a circuit presenting self induction as the result of which great alteration of these contacts takes place.

The correcting effect is also known which is obtained by means of an auxiliary brush contacting with the commutator ofa dynamo which charges a battery of accumulators, the field magnets of the dynamo being fed under the voltage supplied by this auxiliary brush. When the voltage of the dynamo tends to vary the current delivered also varies and the neutral line is displaced which corrects the voltage collected at the auxiliary brush and produces the regulating effect sought on the excitation current of the dynamo. Nevertheless in order that the arrangement can operate it is necessary that the dynamo supplies a battery permanently.

The present invention has for its object the automatic regulation of the excitation current of an electric commutator machine, and in particular, in the case of a dynamo branched on any circuit, the regulation of its voltage whatever its load and its speed of rotation without making use of arrangements presenting the disadvantages referred to above.

According to the invention the field magnets of a dynamo are fed with the voltage collected by two brushes contacting with the commutator of the machine of which one at least is movable and carried by a ring or disc the angular displacement of which in relation to the neutral line is variable and regulatable as a, function of one at least of the variable characteristics of operation of the machine.

Preferably the variable angular displacement of the brush-carrying ring is limited by suitable stops and the variations of this displacement are controlled b an arrangement comprising on or more electro-magnet influenced by the voltage of the dynamo and/or by the current which it supplies, a reversing clutch the driving member 6 of which is rotated by its movement on the shaft of the dynamo and the driving member of which is operatively connected with said ring, the engagement of said clutch being controlled by said electro-magnet or electro-magnets, and a trans- 2 mission with a torque limiter connecting said clutch with said ring.

The arrangement according to the invention is equally applicable to a motor but while for a dynamo the excitation current is adjusted to regulate the values of the voltage and/or the current of the machine whatever be the speed of rotation and the load, in motors which are usually supplied under a constant voltage the excitation current could be adjusted if desired with a view to regulating the speed of rotation and/or the current absorbed by this motor.

Other characteristics of the invention will appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is the diagram of an embodiment of the invention applied to a dynamo.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a variant of the arrangement applied to a motor.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a practical construction of the arrangement of the invention partly in section, with the protectin cover removed and Fig. 4 is a section approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. l, 1 indicates diagrammatically the armature shaft of a dynamo, 2 the commutator connected in usual manner to the winding of the armature (not shown), 3 and 4 are the main brushes which permit of collecting the current delivered by the machine.

5 are the field magnets. They are electrically connected to two auxiliary brushes, 6 and I mounted on an insulated movable disc 8 adapted to pivot through a certain angle about the centre 0 of the armature. A projection 9 in one with this disc may cooperate with two fixed stops ill and H to limit the angular displacement of the latter. The arrangement is such that when the projection 9 abuts against the stop It the neutral line NN' or line of the points of highest and lowest potential respectively on the commutator, while being assumed to be displaced to the maximum extent would still be located between the auxiliary brush 1 and the main brush 4 and when the projection 9 abuts against th stop If the auxiliary brushes 6 and l occupy a position symmetrical with the preceding with respect to the axis yy'.

A portion ll of the disc 8 is toothed and meshes with a pinion l5 mounted on a shaft l6 located in the continuation of a shaft 11 and connected 5 to the latter by a torque limiter i 8. On the shaft I! is keyed a toothed wheel l9 meshing with a worm 20 on a shaft 2| which may rotate in two bearings 22 and 23 fixed on the machine.

The shaft 2| has a shoulder 26 which bears against one face of the bearing 23 while there 3 bears on the other face a ring 21 secured to the shaft 2| by a set screw 28. Two conical rollers 28 and 88 are splined to shaft; 2| by flutes 3|. They are adapted to engage the complementary conical end 34 of the shaft l of the dynamo, thus forming a reversing clutch between shaft I and shaft 2|.

The length of the hubs of the conical rollers 28 and 88 is such that when these hubs contact the rollers cannot both contact at a time with the cone 84.

A compression spring 35 bears on the one hand on the shoulder 26 of the shaft 2| and on the other on the outer face of the conical roller 29 which thus tends to be displaced to the left of the drawing and consequently to bear against the cone 84.

On the outer face of the other conical roller 88 bears a fork 31 formed in the end of a lever 88 which constitutes the movable blade of an electro-magnet. This blade is pivoted by means of a hinge 39 on a frame 48 supporting the core 4| of the electro-magnet. The winding 42 of this electro-magnet is connected to the two main brushes 3 and 4 of the dynamo.

The blade 38 is connected to the frame 48 by a tension spring 43 the tension of which is adjustable by means of a device comprising a screw threaded rod 44 held in place in a hole in the frame 48 by two nuts 45 and 46. The action of the compression spring 35 on the blade 38 is stronger than that of the spring 43. Finally the blade 38 is also connected through the medium of a loaded spring 53 (having unconnected spirals and which consequently can work both in compression and in tension) to a piston 41 which may be displaced with slight play in a cylinder 48 movable longitudinally under the action of a mechanism shown very diagrammatically in the drawing and which comprises the bell crank 49, the rod 54 and the rod 55 connected with a nut 5| in engagement with a screw 52 keyed on the shaft IS.

The operation of this arrangement is as ,follows:

It is assumed that the machine has been stopped and it is driven under no load at an increasing speed in the direction of the arrow ,1". So long as the dynamo has not attained a determined speed its voltage at the terminals (3, 4) is not sufficient to attract the blade 38 of the electro magnet. It follows that the spring 35 presses the roller 29 against the cone 34 and that the system 2|, 20, l8, l1, l8, l6, l5 drives the disc 8 in the direction of the arrow f until the projection 9 comes in contact with the stop III. From this moment the torque limiter I8 slips while the speed of the dynamo and its voltage continue to increase and the machine functions with full excitation, the auxiliary brushes being then in their position nearest the axis X-X which represents at the same time the position of the neutral line since the dynamo operates without load. For a certain value of this voltage the attraction of the flux of the coil 42 of the electro magnet added to the pulling force of the regulating spring 43, preponderates over the action of the spring '35. It follows that the blade 38 presses the conical roller 38 against the cone 34 and that in consequence the mechanism. for regulating the auxiliary brushes is driven in"- the opposite direction the latter being displaced in the direction of the arrow ,1". They move away from the axis X-X and consequently the excitatio voltage falls and by way of consequence the voltage, of the dynamo also. The voltage continuing to fall the attraction of the coil 42 of the electro magnet is no longer sufficient to attract the blade 38 and the spring 35 becoming in turn preponderant pushes the conical roller 28 against the cone 34, the brushes are displaced again in the opposite direction and approach the axis X-X', the voltage rises again and so on. It will be seen thus that when the dynamo has reached its working speed for a definite value of the voltage the blade 38 is in equilibrium and the auxiliary brushes are immovable in an intermediate position.

When the dynamo delivers current the neutral line is displaced in the direction of rotation of the armature and occupies for example the position indicated at NN' in the drawing and making an angle 91 with the axis X-X'. The auxiliary brushes 6 and I occupy a position making an angle ,8 with the axis XX' such that ,9 is greater than 1p. According as the speed of the dynamo increases or decreases about its mean speed the variations of voltage which would have a tendency to be produced are immediately compensated by a suitable displacement of the auxiliary brushes which move away from or approach the neutral line. On the other hand in spite of the fact that the speed of the dynamo remains constant in existing installations it may happen that its voltage at the terminals is modified by reason of the variation of the load. In effect if the load increases the voltage has a tendency to fall but the neutral line is displaced in the direction of rotation of the armature which increases the voltage at the auxiliary brushes and already tends to make the necessary correction independently of the displacement of the brushes due to the operation of the regulating mechanism. As a result for variations of load of the dynamo the auxiliary brushes on the one hand and the neutral line on the other come in front of one another or separate from one another according as the load increases or is reduced, i. e., the voltage has a tendency to decrease or increase. This phenomenon has a direct consequence to increase the speed of the correction due to the regulator.

When the dynamo is stopped the auxiliary brushes come again into the position nearest the position X-X', the projection 9 is in contact with the stop It) and the torque limiter l8 slips.

It has already been stated that the voltage of the dynamo is defined by the position of equilibrium of the blade 38 under the action on the one hand of the fiux of the electro magnet 42 and of the attraction of the spring 43 and on the other, under the action of the opposing sprin 35. The compensated servo device described above has for its object to avoid the phenomenon of possible oscillations in the course of the regulation, the displacements of the cylinder 48 connected to those of the auxiliary brush-carrying disc oppose through the medium of an air cushion contained in this cylinder a force of direction opposite to that of the displacement of the blade 38. This is the servo device and this force is dissipated gradually by reason of the leakage provided between the piston 41 and the cylinder 48. This is the compensating part. It is important not to modify in a permanent manner the conditions of equilibrium of the blade 38 if it is desired to maintain a constant voltage.

Obviously any other known servo compensating device could be employed.

It has been assumed in the foregoing that the dynamo rotates always the arrangement described presents the great advantage of permitting the rotation in both direcmagnets during the change of direction of rotation. In fact if 'the'machine is taken to the point where it 'is desired to leave it, i. e., at the stoppaae after an operation for a rotation in the direction of the arrow 1', if it is now driven in the opposite direction (direction of arrow I) the followin phenomena arise. 7

On starting, the voltage of the dynamo is practically nil. It is due simply to residual excitation. By analogy with the operation already described for the other direction of rotation the auxiliary brushes are to be moved in the direction of the arrow ,1 but this time, the polarity of the dynamo being reversed due to the inversion of its direcin the same direction and I wtions without interrupting the supp to h field tion of rotation, the auxiliary brushes tend to place themselves in a position'of equilibrium symmetrical with that which they had with respect to the axis'yy and consequently their polarity is reversed so that the field magnets are supplied by a current which reinforces the residual excitation and which is always in the same direction whatever the direction of rotation of the dynamo. Under these conditions the machine does not refuse to start and may operate indiiferently in one or other direction. In the case where the machine is to be branched on a circuit of definite polarity it is sufficient to effect this branching through the medium of a polarised relay.

In this arrangement according to the invention the regulator is not in action in a permanent manner like the regulators with vibrating brushes for example, it only enters into operation when the speed of the dynamo varies or the field magnet circuit is heated, a variation of load being compensated automatically by the displacement of the neutral line as explained above. The wear on the regulating members is thus reduced to a minimum and the safety of operation is incomparably greater than that of the majority of known types of regulators which require contacts.

It has been assumed hitherto that the excitation current of a dynamo was adjusted with a view to regulating its voltage and to maintain it at a constant value. One could also make use of the same device to regulate the excitation current of a dynamo as a function of the current delivered, to limit the current to a definite maximum value.

' One could combine also the regulations of the voltage and of the current and for this purpose associate a shunt coil like the coil 42 shown in the drawing with a series coil.

Finally the same principle may also be utilised for the regulation of motors, the latter are generally supplied under a constant voltage, and by adjusting their current of excitation, their speed could be regulated and the current limited and consequently the power they absorb. Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a variant of the arrangement applied to the regulation of the speed of a motor M.

On the shaft I of the motor is keyed a toothed pinion II meshin with another toothed pinion I2 keyed on a shaft II. The number of teeth of the pinion I2 is less than that of the pinion II. On the shaft" is keyed a plate I4 on the periphery of which may press two brushes I5 carried by arms 16 pivoted to a cross member 11 carried by a shaft I8. A tension spring 18 tends to press the two brushes on the plate 14.

On the shaft I8 is keyed a toothed pinion 82 driving through the medium of a pinion 8I' an I ldentical tooth pinion I; connected with a planet wheel 84 of a differential, the other planet wheel of which is carried by the shaft I. The satellites 86 of the differential are carried by a disc 81 provided with a tooth 88 meshing in turn with a pinion 88 mounted ona shaft 98 in the extension of which is disposed a shaft I8 connected to the shaft 88 by a couple limiter II. The shaft I5 carries a pinion I5 meshing with the tooth part ll of a disc 8 which carries the excitation brushes of the motor in accordance with the diagram of Fig. 1.

The operation of this arrangement is as follows:

The motor being at its normal speed if it is assumed for example that it slows down, the planet wheel 85 of the differential also slows down while the other planetary wheel 84 continues to run at constant speed since it is driven by a system controlled by centrifugal masses 15 the arrangement of which constitutes a known speed regulator.

It follows that the disc 81 of the differential rotates and causes the pinion 89 to rotate which pinion through the medium of the shafts 88 and I6 drives the pinion I5 and the disc 8 which carries the auxiliary brushes in the direction which reduces the excitation current to cause the speed of the motor to'rise to the value which it should have in normal running. I

Inversely if the motor is accelerated, the brushcarrying disc would be driven in the opposite direction to increase the exciting current and bring the speed back to its'normal value. This arrangement in accordance with the diagram of Fig. 2 presents the great advantage of being very sensitive, it is applicable particularly to small motors.

For large motors, if it is desired to maintain fineness of regulation, the rotation of the auxiliary brush-carrying disc 8 should be controlled not directly by the differential 84, 85, 86 but through the medium of a system of conical rollers such as that shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 itself controlled by this differential.

There is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 an embodiment of the arrangement forming the subject of Fig. 1. The same references have been used as far as possible to designate the same parts and supplementary references have been adapted to designate the parts necessary for the construction and which have not been shown in detail in the diagram of Fig. l. 6 and 1 are the two auxiliary brushes mounted in the usual manner in cages IIII, I82 pressed against the commutator I22 by springs, not shown, and connected to the field magnets by the usual connections, also not shown.

The cages I8I, I82 are mounted on the disc 8 and suitably insulated with respect thereto. The latter may turn freely on a hub I83 of bearing I84 and is held in place axially by split ring I85 disposed in a suitable groove in the hub I88. The shaft I of the dynamo is held in the bearing I84 by a ball bearing I88 and terminates in a conical end 84 with which may cooperate two conical parts 29 and 38 of a double bevel roller I81. This roller is made of material having a high coefilcient of friction and is mounted on a socket I88 which may slide on the shaft 2I but which is connected on rotation by means of an arrangement with splines or fiats. The shaft 2i is carried by two ball bearings I I I and I I2 located on the parts 22, 23 connected to the bearing I84. On the shaft 2I is mounted a worm 28 by means of a screw II3 which shaft 2|.

The worm 20 meshes with the wheel I3 mounted freely on a shaft I I4 which turns in a socket II5 fitted in the bearing I04. The shaft II4 carrying at one of its ends the pinion I5 meshes with the toothed disc I4. The shaft II4 is provided with a shoulder IIO on which the toothed pinion I9 presses through'the medium of a washer I2I having a suitable coefllcient of friction under the action of'a spring I II the pressure of which is adjustable by means of plate 0 held bears on a flat on the as a voltage regulator. Nevertheless this serve and compensation system shown in the diagram Fig. 1 has been simplified in the practicalembodiment just described and which is sufllcient in application. Movements of the blades of the I electro magnets are simply damped 'by the reinplace on the shaft II4 by the nut II3 and-lock nut I20.

The socket I08 which carries the bi-conical roller I01 holds at one of its ends a bearing I24.

in which is mounted a rod I25 which serves to transmit to the roller I01 the axial movements.

1. sistance of the displacement of in the fixed cylinder I 41. 1 {Obviously the invention is notlimited to the the piston, I46

- this main brush but there could be provided an For this purpose on the axle I25 is threaded a plate I held in place by a pin I2'I which is thus held in the plate after fitting. On the outer face of the plate I26 bears a fork I28 connected with the movable blade 38 of an electro-magnet 42 which constitutes the regulator supplied under the voltage of the dynamo. The magnetic circuit 40 of this regulator is carried also by the main bearing I04 and the blade 38 is pivoted to the armature 40 by the hinge I29. The movable blade 38 is extended by an arm I3I carrying a, balancing runner I32 and on which is hooked one end of the tension spring I33, the other end of which is hookedat I34 on a support, connected to the armature 40 of the electro-magnet, the tension of the spring being adjustable by means of a screw threaded device I35.

Another electro-magnet 42' is mounted symmetrically of the electro-magnet 42 with respect to the plane passing through the line 4-4 and at right angles to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 3. This electro-magnet 42' is supplied by the main current delivered by the dynamo or a fraction only of this current and acts asa curbears like the fork I28 of the other electromagnet on the outer face of the plate I20.

Finally the end of the rod I is formed with an opening I38 in which is engaged one end of a lever I39 which turns on an axle I40 in one.

with the main bearing I04. A small spring I42 is interposed between the lever I39 and the plate I26 through the medium of a Washer I43 bearing suitably on the edge of the plate. This small spring I42 has merely for its object to reduce the play in the transmission thus formed.

The other end of the lever I39 is pivoted at I44 on a rod I45 connected to a piston I45 capable of being, displaced with slight play in a cylinder I41 connected with the main bearing I04. A washer I48 ocated at the inlet of the cylinder serves as an abutment for a compression spring I 49, the other end of which bears on the lever I39. This spring acts on the blades 38, 30' of the electro-magnets in opposition to the flux of attraction. The adjustable springs I33, I33 serves practically only as means of exact regulation for adjusting the position of equilibrium of each of'the two eleetro-magnets. A'casing I23 protects the whole of these apparatus.

The function of this device has already been described in detail with respect to Fig. 1. The principle of this embodiment corresponds to that of the diagram explained. There has been added a second electro magnet 42' which serves as a current regulator, the electro-magnet 42 serving analogous regulating arrangement in which the auxiliary brush and the neutral line would be on opposite sides of the main brush. In this latter case the correction would be obviously much slower for the same variations of load, since the displacement of the neutral line with respect to the auxiliary brush would take place precisely in the opposite to the correcting direction and the auxiliary brush would necessarily have to be displaced for simple variationsof the load. This latter arrangement would consequently be used for installations having sudden variations in speed.

Finally it has been assumed hitherto that they field magnets of the machine were supplied between two auxiliary brushes but they could be branched between an auxiliary brush (I for example) and the opposite main brush 3. In this case if the machine is to function in both directions of rotation it is necessary at the moment of reversal to connect to the opposite brush 0 the connection of the field magnet originally connected to the main brush 3; otherwise obviously no power could be collected after reversal of the direction of rotation-of the machine.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters;

Patent is:

In a dynamoelectric machine having a rotatable member with a commutator, a set of load brushes and a set of" auxiliary brushes cooperating with said commutator, field exciting windings adapted to be energised by the voltage across said auxiliary brushes, a ring mounted for rotation about said commutator, one at least of said auxiliary brushes being carried by said ring, two stops for limiting angular displacements of said ring, an electromagnet connected in an electric circuit of the machine, an armature for said electromagnet movable in response to variations of the current flowing therethrough, means operatively connecting said ring with said rotatable member said means including a reversing clutch adapted to driveselectively said ring in opposite directions under control of said movable armature and a torque limiter, and a dashpot operatively connected to said ring to restrain excessive. movements thereof.

JEAN FRANCOIS GABRIEL PETIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

